Good morn or evening friends Here's your friendly announcer I have serious news to pass on to every-body What I'm about to say Could mean the world's disaster Could change your joy and laughter to tears and pain

It's up to you cause Love's in need of love today love's in need of love today Don't delay don't de-lay Send yours in right away right a-way Yoy know that hate's hate's Hate's goin' round goin' round Breaking_hate's tried to break my heart many times break-ing hearts Don't_you've got to stop it please stop it please Before before before gone too far

Love's in need of love today love's in need of love today Don't delay don't de-lay Send yours in right away right a-way You know that hate's goin' around hate's goin' Hate's going around hate's going around round break- And it tried to break up many hearts ing hearts Stop You've got to I've got to They've got to it please We've got to They've got to We've got to gone Stop it before it's gone too far too far Love's love's in need of love love's in need of love Did you ever think that love would be in need of love today to-day don't Don't delay de-lay Send yours in right away right a-way

AHHH NOW,AIN'T DAT CUTE,VALENTINE'S SONG UMM LET ME SEE.....IF I HAVE TO PICK ONE ROMANTIC SONG THEN LET IT BE BY MR ROMANCE HIMSELF,JOHNNY MATHIS{MISTY}!.....AND HEARTS AN FLOWERS TO YOU SUE AND ALL THE REST OF YOU LOVEBIRDS.

How could you choose? "La, La..." "Second That Emotion", "Let's Get It On", "You Really Got A Hold On Me" Heck, I'd even throw in "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" "Hold Me, Thrill Me", the list is endless.....

I'll Make Love to You�Boys to Men You're All I Need to Get By�Marvin & Tammi Daydreaming�Aretha Franklin I'd Rather Be Here With You�Johnny Mathis (Thom Bell Album) Is It Still Good To Ya�Ashford & Simpson I'll Be There for You�Ashford & Simpson Your Precious Love�Marvin & Tammi

Not to get too far out of the groove, but it's worth recognizing that tunes by folks like Gershwin, Cole Porter,Jerome Kern etc. have held up for over 50 years and are still going strong. Just a few examples:

Sis mentioned Teddy P's "Close the Door" and "Turn off the Lights". I always expected him to continue with a series of hits along those lines like "Pull Down the Sheets", "Whisper Sweet Nothings", "Did You Remember to Close the Garage Door?", and "Aw Shoot, I'll be Right Back".

Ken - HAHAHAHAHAHA! Your Teddy P comment reminds me of when I used to have my college friends cracking up with my "Turn Off The Lights/Let's Get It On": "Nish's Friday nite dorm room concert tribute to Teddy and Marvin" routine.

And for all of you SDer's, my song to you all is "I Wish You Love" by Gloria Lynne for obvious reasons. Hope it's a wonderful, memorable day for all of you. As for me, I'll play Baby Washington's "Only Those In Love" and watch from the sidelines! :-)

"All You Do Is Dial"....Heatwave "Can't Live Without My Sweets".... New York City "Happiness Is".....New York City "Never Knew Love Like This"..Alexander O'Neal & Cherelle "Just For Your Love"..Memphis Horns or Earl Klugh "Yearning For Your Love"...Gap Band "What's A Telephone Bill"..Bootsy's Rubber Band "Say You Love Me"...D.J. Rogers "I'm Gonna Make You My Wife"...The Whispers "For The Love of You"...The Isley Brothers "Love Ballad"...LTD "A Song For You"...Donny Hathaway "Stay Awake"...Ronnie Laws "Can This Be Real"...Natural Four "La La Means I Love You"...Delfonics "You Don't Have To Change"...Kool & The Gang "Love Is The Message"...MFSB

Speaking of classics, I did like the Temptations' version of Cole Porter's "Night and Day" -- from what, three years ago? Was in the film "What Women Want," and when I heard it I had to know who that was ...

Hey, must be that I'm draggin' a little bit tonight, but the above title by BARBARA MASON was actually her 1965 smash, "YES I'M READY"... not "BABY I'M YOURS", so please excuse me, and, goooodnighhhhttt....

Almost any Michael Feinstein CD that has him singing Porter or Gershwin. Out of curiosity I asked my wife. I know it isn't a song, but she responded with Barry White, and started to melt at the thought of his voice.

I know it's been co-opted by Madison Ave. and Hollywood in the last few years but Etta James' "At Last" is still the total package for me-sweeping strings, a robust, soulful vocal, and a lyric of joyous romantic discovery. Hearing it always stirs something inside of me plus it's a great slow dance number (I just wish it was longer!).

Great article, Sue! Continue to churn them out, we will continue to read!

Roberta Flack had some interesting things to say about songwriting and music today. I think her view is a little more optimistic than mine (although I'm not pessimistic about the fact that there are talented folks out there, I'm a little more concerned that the pop world wants nothing to do with them), but it's good to see a legendary artist's slant on things like sampling etc. To reiterate,great job! And happy Valentine's day to one and all, if it has resonance for you.

As far as my picks for Valentine songs, I guess I'd have to go with "The Bells" by the Originals as the best. If I had to do it all over again, I'd use that spoken word part in the middle for my wedding vow.

Speaking of that, I always thought the music we started the dancing with at my wedding was pretty smokin' -- "If This World Were Mine," "You're All I Need to Get By," and "Let's Get it On." For a moment, I was wishing all the other people weren't there...

But all of that stuff gets me: The Originals, the Delfonics, the Stylistics, the slow Marvin stuff. I'm such a big sentimental softy sap that it's embarassing sometimes.

Sue - Very interesting article. On the list of artist and songs, there are about seven (7) artist I've never heard of. (These days I am a square.) But certainly, I've never hear of Kem. I'll have to watch out for him.

Sue: Likewise regarding Kem...This is the first time I've heard of him (Geez...any wonder how Universal Music Group caught on quick, especially since Kem was outselling their top artist [Eminem] in their hometown while still selling his CDs independently...and my colleagues wonder why I've started my own label...). Kevin Goins - KevGo

Yeah Street Corner Records is my favorite record place in the Detroit area, since they sell new AND old, vinyl and CDs. They also sell very cool reproductions of old Motown Revue and Marvin Gaye concert posters, as well as stills of Motown artists, etc.

When the owner told me Kem had outsold everything last year, I had to have him repeat it several times. "Even Eminem???" Even Eminem.

Sue, let me add my kudos to you on both the romantic song piece and the mercifully sensationalism-free MJ article. But I would expect nothing less from a Creem veteran. I quickly scanned your song list that accompanied and didn't notice the Meat Loaf. You wouldn't have included Meat Loaf and excluded Etta James' "At Last", would you? If so, errgghh!

John, There's no Etta on that list, and I still love "At Last," nor is there any Al Green!!! I personally caught a rose from the Rev. Al at jazzfest a few years ago, apart from interviewing him years bef. that, so how could I? That's what I meant about throwing it together too fast.

Sis....you and so many other women as well !! I escorted my (then) lady to his "Ladies Only" concert....and thought I was gonna have to leave her there. She wasn't the bra & panty throwing type.....but I thought she was coming a lil tooooo close ! (LOL)

Iwicket - LMAO. Actually, I've never seen any ladies throw their bras or undies to anyone on stage. When I saw Teddy perform I cried. That's how much the anticipation had built. I thought Teddy was so sexy, fine, and all those manly things. I think I have 3 LP's by him. I just loved him so much, all day and all night, Teddy, teddy, teddy.

And then here come the curve and the tree in Philly. I was in shock. It took me at least 10 years before I could listen to those beautiful LPs again. I placed them all the way in the back of the shelf so I couldn't see them. It's just been the last few years that I've been able to listen to Teddy's beautiful voice again.

GOOD GOD,PEOPLE...I CAN'T BELIEVE NO ONE MENTIONED THIS ONE....HERE'S A HINT....MY BELOVED LEVI SINGS IT. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE EVER SEEN HIM SING THIS IN CONCERT????? IT BRINGS TEARS TO A MAN'S EYES....MY HUBBY HAD TO LEAVE THE ROOM......

Has anyone ever heard of Miles Jaye? On one of his albums a song "Message" is really something else and "I'll Be There". Miles Jaye, when he was first introduced to the music world, mad a statement that he's the son of a well known muscian, but wouldn't say who it is. Of course I thought Miles Davis,a great possibility, but I see no resemblance, Miles Jaye (Davis) happens 2 B very good looking, so I have no idea who at that time.

One of my favorites Love/romantic soul song is "If I Had you - Big Maybelle and it is released on an Album on Kent records in the UK during the eighties but it's a recording biginning sixties. Never release before. An album worth of searchinf for there is also an unreleased song from Chuck Jackson on it called "Castagnets" Great album with New york Soul.